Motorsports: Papini back on top at speedway

LOVES PARK — Alex Papini had a season to remember in 2013. He picked back up on Saturday night.

Last season the Machesney Park native racked up eight feature wins on his way to the Rockford Speedway track championship and an Illinois State Championship.

On Saturday, Papini was back on top, capturing the win in the 30-lap Late Model feature event. Papini outran seven-time Rockford Speedway track champion Ricky Bilderback on his way to the victory.

Papini started on the outside front row for the main event, next to Wisconsin driver Wayne Freimund. He pounced to the lead in the race’s opening laps, bringing Bilderback along for the ride. Over the next 10 laps, Papini and Bilderback wrestled for the front, with Papini finally pulling away near the halfway point.

Bilderback closed the gap several times but never seriously challenged for the lead again in the caution-free race. Three-time track champion Jerry Gille finished in third, followed by Jake Gille in fourth and Jon Reynolds Jr. in fifth.

Byron’s Pat Featherston won his first ever Sportsman feature race, taking the lead from Rockford’s John Logan Jr. with nine laps remaining in the division’s 25-lap feature event. Howie Ware finished in second for the second straight week and was followed by Johnny Robinson II in third.

Shawn Rickelman made it look easy in the Roadrunner division, powering to the lead on lap four of the 20-lap feature race, winning by a straightaway. The win was Rickelman’s first Saturday night feature win.

Beloit’s Ryan Ostenson led all 10 laps of the Figure 8 feature en route to his first ever Rockford Speedway win.

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